Trane paced back and forth across his private balcony. She was late. Very late. An hour late. And he was not used to being kept waiting. In fact, besides Nico, he couldn’t think of a single other person who had ever kept him waiting. He pulled at his shirt sleeve and rotated his shoulders inside his suit coat. He had worn his favorite casual sport coat, Armani. They were the best at unassuming menswear. He wore her favorite cologne, tulips sat in the vase in the center of the table, and their now-cold dinner was being wheeled back to the kitchen to be reheated and brought when he informed them of her arrival. The playlist had already circled back to the beginning, and Trane’s frustration was reaching the breaking point.

He refused to text her after six times, asking if she were coming. His finger hovered over Lucan’s name. A single call in and he would know where she was. He pressed his lips together. No. He would not do that.

Tripp knocked on his doorframe, the door wide open. Trane called to him from outside. “Come on in. Nobody here but me.”

He stepped outside. “The night air is perfect this time of year.”

Trane eyed him. “Did you come here to talk to me about the weather?”

A smile or a shrug from Tripp and everyone was endeared, except Trane. “What do you want brother?”

He sat in what would have been Phina’s chair. “Nothing. I heard she wasn’t here so I came to see how you are.” He toyed with the vase of flowers. “And to let you know that I heard from an undisclosed source that she was on her way.” He stood. “Five minutes out.”

Trane watched him leave. When he was almost to the door, he called out, “Thank you.”

Tripp just waved and exited.

Trane asked for the food to be brought in ten minutes, restarted the playlist and sat in the corner of the couch in his sitting area, arms across the back of the leather, leg crossed on his knee. He tried to adjust his attitude, think pleasant thoughts, and not fidget. What was wrong with him? Well for one, he had set aside multiple things in his schedule so that he would be able to keep his date with Seraphina. His irritation rose again. He almost stood and started pacing again. But she texted. “Trane. I know we talked about dinner, but I am exhausted, just getting home. Can I take a rain check?”

He roared to his feet with a great silent disappointment. He texted back, “No, at least come see me. You have to eat. Low key, casual. My rooms.”

He waited. As irritated as he was that she was so late, he still wanted her to come.

He could almost hear her tired sigh. “Ok. I can never say no to you. Be right there.”

A large breath left his lips. She was coming.

Within about two minutes, she at last stood in his doorway. She looked like she’d been in business meetings, pencil skirt, jacket folded over her arm, white shirt. He decided he liked her in a business outfit. He’d like to go up against her in negotiations some time. She emanated an atmosphere of power, one he had never recognized before. Gone was the groupie waiting for Trane to be finished for today. Here stood someone he was going to have to work to please. Well, he was trying. He was giving all he could this last week, every spare moment.

She entered slowly, her eyes moving up the length of him. Everywhere they lingered tingled as though touched. He waited. When she at last stood in front of him, she reached down with one hand and slipped off her shoes. “Sorry I’m late.” She didn’t look a bit sorry, but Trane couldn’t feel angry, not when she stood above him, looking like she was ready to take on the world. He reached up to take her hand. When she responded with her own, he pulled her down, twisting her so she sat across his lap.

She laughed. “Trane, what!”

“I’ve been waiting on this lonely couch for an hour.” He growled and nuzzled her neck.

She leaned into him, her breath coming faster. He could feel the racing of her pulse under his fingers. “I said, I’m sorry.”

“But you’re not sorry. I think you were trying to punish me.” He tilted her back in his arms, his face above hers. “Weren’t you?

Her eyes widened, and he saw the desire in them. He knew she was as smitten as he. The trouble was, neither knew what to do with the other. She looked at his mouth, searched his face, and then relaxed into a lazy smile. “Are you gonna hold me here all night?”

“Oh no. I have much more planned for you.” He tilted her back up and helped her rise. The staff had entered and were setting up dinner out on the balcony. Again. “Let’s start though, by eating.”

“This is lovely!” She ran to the balcony. “Trane. Tulips. The balcony, everything.” She turned to him, stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. “I know I said I was tired, but really I’m famished. Thank you.”

“Do your meetings not provide food?”

A fleeting flash of discomfort crossed her features and then vanished. “Not that kind of meeting unfortunately.” She sat and the servant put a napkin in her lap. She looked expectantly at Trane.

He laughed, “All right, let’s eat.” He sat across from her and after his napkin had been placed, they were once again alone. “Bon appétit.”

For a moment, they were quiet, each intent on enjoying the meal. And he began to relax. He knew what it was like to be so busy that you couldn’t find time to eat, no matter who it was with. He understood. He had just never been on the receiving end of his busy schedule. And he found he didn’t like it. No wonder Seraphina had stepped away, put some distance between them.

“So, tell me about your meetings. Where did you go?”

She swallowed. He could tell it was too soon. She winced to get past the big piece of bread. “Just some connections. I went into town where they met me.”

“Who? Are they people we should pull in for our deliberations?” He was always looking for expert sources to consult.

“Uh-uh.” She waved a finger at him.

“What?” Confused, he waited.

“I can’t divulge my source.”

He grunted. “Huh.” If they couldn’t talk about her day, and his day was confidential as well, what could they discuss? “The ribbon cutting!”

She swallowed her water. “What about it?”

“I meant to ask you. I would be honored if you would be my date for the event.” He leaned across the table on one arm.

“The press will talk.” Her eyes squinted in concern.

He remembered all too clearly the last time they mentioned he and Seraphina together. “Let them. I want everyone to know my intentions toward you.”

Her eyes widened. “You do? And what are your intentions toward me?” A slow smile grew across her mouth.

“To spend as much time with you as I can.”

She laced her fingers through his and held onto his hand. “I’ve liked it so far.” She searched his face. “I hope it continues.”

“Me too. Phina, that’s the plan.” He rubbed his thumb over the tops of her knuckles. “Barring some national emergency, my spare time is yours.” He frowned. “And if we had a national emergency I would just have to bring you in close with us so I didn’t have to worry about you.”

She swallowed, and he could see the concern flicker across her face almost before it did. She didn’t trust him or his intentions. He didn’t blame her. But some of his unpredictability was way beyond his control. The Crown came first. But she had to understand that at least a little. She was raised a royal and had kept him waiting today.

Then she laughed. “Why are you frowning?” She reached forward to run a finger along his forehead. “You can never hide your feelings. It’s one thing I love about you.” She stood, pulling him back inside toward the couch. “Tell me what’s bothering you.”

More than happy to move to the couch, he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her to his side while they walked. “I was just thinking about how complicated it is for us royals.”

“The press?”

He waved his hand. “You press don’t bother me. It’s an expected part of the job.”

“I guess I wasn’t putting myself in that group.”

“I know. But you are, aren’t you?”

She nodded and shrugged. The discomfort in her expression started to bother Trane.

“You know you aren’t going to find any horrible thing to have to report about us.” He pulled her beside him onto the couch.

She twisted to look at his face. “I hope not.” The concern lines deepened.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“No. Let’s keep my job and your job out of this.”

“Well, they are not out of this. Neither of us can separate who we are and what we do from our relationship. That’s one of the nice things about you. You are already in my world. You fit and you understand.”

“But I have a job to do, and I love my job. I have goals. And Trane I care about the ocean.”

He remembered her first announcement to the press. “And you’re worried you might find something nefarious to disclose.” He kept the smile off his face. He would never want to seem patronizing to her. But she just wouldn’t find anything. For decades they had led the industry, led the other Mediterranean nations in care of their water.

She didn’t respond. And that concerned him.

“Have you already found something that concerns you?”

She sat up straight. “Your press advisor will be given an opportunity to respond to anything I print. We, of course, will seek your response.” Her voice had switched tones, and he now saw the reporter take the reins. While he loved her strength, he did not enjoy the receiving end of the wall she built.

“You’re right.” He tugged at her to lean back again toward him.

“About what?”

“We should keep this part of our lives separate.”

She cautiously snuggled back in under his arm.

“For now.”

“Ugh. Trane.”

“Well at some point I think we should come up with a plan, or talk about what you will say. Or something.”

“I don’t work for you.” Her voice had gone quiet, and he realized the error of his words.

“True. You’re right. Look Phina. Here’s the truth. I want you to write the best, most accurate article you can write. Help everyone see the importance of caring for our environment, cover the summit and all the powers at play there. In that way, we will be working together on this.”

She nodded.

“Now, you never even mentioned your favorite chocolate by your plate that I noticed you ate first.”

She wiggled against him. “If it is Torren chocolate, it always gets eaten first. And last, and in between.”

“I have another piece.” He dangled it in front of her and then he leaned back, inviting her to come across him.

Her eyes lit and darkened with a yearning that lit a reaction in him. He reminded himself to take things slow. But she would make that difficult. Especially as she now leaned across him, reaching for the chocolate. He shifted so that she stayed in his arms. “Open it.”

Her lips close to his, he felt the breath of her response and her heart drum against him. “Now?”

“Mm. Hmm. It’s new.”

She pulled her hand from under him to open the piece and then placed it on her lips, melted the chocolate and then spread it on his mouth, parting his lips to find his tongue.

He took a small bite and then she popped the rest in her mouth. “Mmm. Trane. This is...” She closed her eyes and he waited. When she swallowed and opened her eyes, he ran his finger along her neckline and then back up and into her hair. “Phina.” He could not wait any longer. He wanted to press his mouth to hers and never stop.

She fell back to the couch at his side, lying next to him. He shifted so his face hovered above her own and slowly, lowered his mouth.

She raised up to meet his lips and he cradled her in his arms. The softness of her response to him undid him and forced him to take care, to be in control. She trembled and her lips moved with such a hopeful hesitation, his heart almost broke. If he began this experiment to see if they could work, he had to make it work. He could not break her heart again. Then he responded to her hesitation with an insistent pressing and pulling of her bottom lip, covering her mouth with his own over and again until she responded with the same. They lost themselves to each other until he shifted, covering her and rotated too much and landed on the floor. “Doh.”

She peeked over the edge of the couch, her hair deliciously mussed. “Are you ok?”

He opened one eye. “Get down here you.” He pulled her off the couch and she landed on him. But the moment was lost and they laughed more than anything. Shortly after, she pushed off of him and stood. He felt cold, the space between them charged with yearning.

“I have to go.”

He didn’t move, only nodded. “OK.” It was for the best. He told himself it was for the best. But she stood there, desire flushing her cheeks, happiness brightening her eyes and he forgot all the reasons she should not stay the night. Perhaps it would be better to have a staff member about when they were together.

She swallowed twice. “I do have to go, right?”

He groaned and rolled to his side. “Don’t look at me like that.”

Laughing, she turned. “Ok, I’ll go.”

“Wait.”

She turned slowly.

He stood and in two steps pulled her up against him again. He kissed her soundly and thoroughly, holding her up when she gripped his arms. Then walked her to the door. “You are too much.”

“Good night.” She smiled, almost giggled, and he shook his head. “See you tomorrow.”

When the door shut, he rotated his shoulders. He needed a solid work out and a cold shower. But he couldn’t help the self-satisfied smile that spread across his cheeks. He was making this work.

His phone dinged. Expecting to say goodnight, he grinned. But Lucan’s frowning mug video chatted him instead. “We have to talk.”

“Can’t it wait?”

“Stay put, we’ll come to you.”